Mother and child

Mrs B was being pursued by a fledgling and both were content to stay fairly close to me. They were waiting for me to put out fresh food.

The little one was very vocal and she would reply with comforting clucks.

This all made me very happy, but then I started seeing one baby looking lethargic - probably the one who had been just outside.

I thought I had to take him to the animal hospital but I couldn't catch him and just ended up scaring him. Even so, he was still unwilling to move away when I was very close - he just evaded capture. Sitting still, he kept closing his eyes and seemed to be panting. I found it desperately sad. Heart-breaking and was furious for my incompetence. But then Leanne reminded me I had felt just as bad when I had actually taken the squirrel in, and thought that a peaceful death in the garden would have been less traumatic.

He's still there and I still feel raw and dreadful. Why can't I be like Clare or Gay who do manage to rescue birds? And now it's raining. I hate myself for this inadequacy. Do I try to catch him again? But now the animal hospital is shut. The whole situation tears me apart but what matters is not MY PAIN but the blackbird's. What does he want and why can't I know?

**** Later, he was still there, in the rain and I caught him. He screamed and I was scared I had hurt him. I held him against my heart as he panted. I put him in a safe box, but he was dead in the morning. I named him (or her) Blossom and buried the little body.